by Terri Whitehead

Something unexpected has appeared on the bank of the River Mur in Graz, Austria. Between the red brick roofs of neighboring historic buildings, "the friendly alien," as it is locally known, has landed in Austria's second largest city.

In celebration of Graz's status as Cultural Capital of Europe 2003, British architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, in association with the Austrian firm Architektur Consult, have designed the Kunsthaus Graz, a new gallery for contemporary and multidisciplinary art.

Cook and Fournier entered the international competition for the Kunsthaus together as "Spacelab" and won in 2000. Cook, a member of the famed 1960s architecture group Archigram and winner of last year's prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects Gold Medal Award, teaches with Fournier at The Bartlett School of Architecture in London.   >>>

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The Kunsthaus in Graz, Austria designed by Peter Cook, Colin Fournier, and Architektur Consult. Photo: Elvira Klamminger The multimedia art gallery sits on the River Mur. Image: urban.filter.com   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.